The moment Feng Qishi uttered those words, Mu Anxiao's heart sank.
"What kind of girl do you think I like?" he asked.
Mu Anxiao had never taken it upon herself to ponder this question for Feng Qishi, but since he had asked, and it would only cause her more trouble if she didn't offer some guidance, she considered it for a moment. "I think," she began, gently pushing his hand away from her forehead, "you'd be suited for someone… gentle and understanding, because your temper doesn't seem to be the best."
"I don't like that."
"You don't like that type of girl?" Mu Anxiao inquired.
Feng Qishi nodded. "Yes, I don't like them."
"How about… the homemaker type, who can cook you lots of delicious food?"
"Don't like it."
"Someone who likes to act spoiled?"
"Don't like it."
"Someone who likes you?"
"Don't like it."
With each "don't like," Feng Qishi seemed to be dampening Mu Anxiao's enthusiasm. She sighed lightly and patiently asked, "Then what type of girl do you like?"
"Me? Don't you remember?" Feng Qishi's tone was unexpectedly serious.
Mu Anxiao hadn't paid attention to anything Feng Qishi had said in the past two days, believing his words were all jokes with no real substance. However, Feng Qishi did not consider everything he said to be a jest.
"What… what did you say?" Mu Anxiao asked uncomfortably.
Mu Anxiao's question dealt Feng Qishi a blow.
"What did I say when I arrived? Don't you remember?" he asked patiently.
"What…"
Before Mu Anxiao could finish, Feng Qishi suddenly bent down, embraced her in front of everyone, and then stood up, asking, "Do you remember now?"
Immediately, passersby cast peculiar glances their way.
Mu Anxiao, startled by Feng Qishi's action, took two steps back. "What are you doing?" she asked, glancing uncomfortably at the people who were now hastily averting their gaze.
Feng Qishi asked again, "Do you remember now?"
"I re…" Mu Anxiao uttered the word, then lowered her eyes to recall what Feng Qishi had said to her at the city gate. She looked up and asked, "Wasn't that just a joke?"
"No."
"No?"
Seeing how chaotic the surroundings were, Feng Qishi said, "Let's go!" With that, he turned and walked ahead.
Mu Anxiao, also worried about being misunderstood as having a homosexual preference, followed Feng Qishi without a second word.
In a blink, they found themselves in an abandoned alley. Feng Qishi stopped, his back to Mu Anxiao.
Mu Anxiao stood a few steps away, calmly looking up at the back of Feng Qishi's head, remaining silent.
Feng Qishi said, "Don't you have anything to say?"
"Your meaning is…" Mu Anxiao pursed her lips. "That I am the girl you fancy?"
Hearing Mu Anxiao's direct question, Feng Qishi's heart inexplicably pounded. He covered his chest and took a deep breath. "Once I've decided it's you, I won't change."
"Do you like me?" Mu Anxiao suddenly asked.
Feng Qishi had never anticipated Mu Anxiao asking such a question, and coupled with his lack of experience in such situations, he became flustered. "I… I've only decided that you are my… other half. You…"
"As far as I know, your immortal position requires a partner, but the prerequisite is mutual affection. You and I," Mu Anxiao stepped forward two paces, continuing, "we don't like each other, so in the end, it won't work out."
Hearing this, Feng Qishi froze and quickly turned to look at Mu Anxiao. "What do you mean?"
Mu Anxiao clutched the portrait she was holding. "Originally, I didn't want to tell you, but now I feel… I can tell you."
"What do you want to say?" Feng Qishi felt a sense of foreboding.
Mu Anxiao said, "You help me capture demon souls, and while I improve my spiritual energy, I'll help you find your other half. That way, I become an immortal, you get your immortal position – a win-win situation."
Back in the mortal world, Feng Qishi had often seen his classmates being rejected by girls, and he used to mock them. Now that he was experiencing it himself, he understood that feeling… it was truly… unpleasant!
"Are you rejecting me?"
"I will not fall in love with any immortal, because becoming an immortal is my goal," Mu Anxiao stated firmly.
Upon hearing Mu Anxiao's grand aspirations, Feng Qishi suddenly regretted not treating her better sixty years ago. If he had been kinder to her then, perhaps their feelings would have developed, and she might not have rejected him now!
"..."
Seeing Feng Qishi's silence, Mu Anxiao asked, "What's wrong?"
Hearing this, Feng Qishi concealed his awkwardness and smiled faintly. "Nothing. I'll wait for you."
"Wait for me for what?"
"I'll wait for you to like me."
"If you don't even like me, then even if I fall for you, it'll be useless," Mu Anxiao saw things clearly.
"What you're saying makes sense, but I believe I will come to like you," Feng Qishi said with conviction.
Mu Anxiao hadn't thought about it, but Feng Qishi had. He had been with her for two lifetimes. In the previous life, he didn't cherish her and hurt her deeply, even always making her protect him. In this life, he wanted to protect her, to define her as his other half, even if she disagreed now! He wouldn't give up!
To this, Mu Anxiao was surprisingly not repulsed; instead, she found Feng Qishi's demeanor rather amusing.
"Alright then, you try your best. However, I will also work hard to find a destined immortal woman for you," Mu Anxiao patted Feng Qishi's shoulder.
Feng Qishi smiled down. "I hope this matter doesn't make you feel awkward seeing me."
"If anyone else said this to me, I would definitely feel awkward, but because it's you," Mu Anxiao shook her head, "I don't feel awkward."
"Why?"
"Because I never took your words seriously," Mu Anxiao said, turning and walking ahead.
Feng Qishi smiled helplessly and caught up to Mu Anxiao.
Before long, Mu Anxiao and Feng Qishi were walking side by side, talking and conversing, their relationship unchanged by the recent events.
"Do you think Ah Xia will come?" Mu Anxiao asked.
Feng Qishi, while eating a bun, replied, "She will."
"Do you think I can enlighten her?"
"That, I don't know. The situation is different."
"What if she tries to kill me?" Mu Anxiao asked, reaching out to snatch the bun from Feng Qishi's hand and taking a bite.
Feng Qishi held his hand up, stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Mu Anxiao. "You're eating my bun?"
"I don't find you repulsive," Mu Anxiao said as she ate.
Feng Qishi grinned. "If it were me, I'd definitely find you repulsive."
"Whatever," Mu Anxiao raised her eyebrows.